The New York Yankees made a major statement in Game 1 of the 2026 MLB Wild Card Series, shutting out the Boston Red Sox 9-0 on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.

The victory puts New York one win away from advancing in the best-of-three series, while Boston now faces elimination in Game 2.

The Yankees entered the postseason opener without star slugger Aaron Judge, who was unavailable because of a calf injury. His absence, however, did little to slow New York's offense as Ben Rice stepped into the spotlight.

The foundation of New York's victory was starting pitcher Cam Schlittler.

Schlittler held Boston scoreless through 6⅓ innings while recording 10 strikeouts. He allowed only two hits and one walk, repeatedly keeping Red Sox hitters off balance with his high-velocity fastball and curveball.

The Yankees right-hander threw a career-high 117 pitches, including 77 strikes. His workload was the highest by a Yankees postseason starter since CC Sabathia threw 121 pitches in Game 5 of the 2012 American League Division Series.

Schlittler's performance was particularly notable because he was facing the team he grew up supporting in Massachusetts. The Walpole native once again produced a strong postseason outing against Boston after his impressive performance against the Red Sox in the previous year's Wild Card Series.

While Schlittler controlled the mound, Ben Rice led the Yankees' offensive attack.

Rice went 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double and six RBIs. His first homer came in the fifth inning, extending New York's lead, before he delivered the biggest blow of the night in the eighth.

With the bases loaded, Rice launched a grand slam to right-center field, turning the game into a 9-0 rout. It was the Yankees' first postseason grand slam since Anthony Volpe hit one during the 2024 World Series.

Rice's four-hit performance also made him the first Yankee to record four hits in a postseason game since Gleyber Torres did so during the 2020 Wild Card Series.

Rice wasn't the only Yankee to make an impact.

Catcher Austin Wells drove in two runs and helped Schlittler escape an early threat with a crucial defensive play. Rookie George Lombard Jr. also impressed in his postseason debut, collecting three hits and scoring twice.

New York ultimately finished with a comfortable nine-run advantage while its pitching staff limited Boston to just three hits.

Boston starter Payton Tolle kept the Red Sox within striking distance early, allowing one run on five hits across 4⅔ innings. But once the Yankees' offense began to break through, Boston struggled to respond.

For Boston, the biggest problem was its inability to generate offense.

The Red Sox managed only three hits in the entire game, while Schlittler's 10 strikeouts prevented Boston from building sustained pressure.

The Boston Globe's live coverage highlighted the difficulties facing the Red Sox lineup, including several injury and lineup concerns during the game. Roman Anthony left the contest and was replaced by a pinch-hitter, while other Boston players dealt with physical issues during the night.

The result was Boston's second consecutive postseason loss to the Yankees by a significant margin, putting additional pressure on the Red Sox heading into Game 2.

With the 9-0 victory, New York now leads the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series 1-0.

The Yankees can clinch the series in Game 2, while Boston must win to force a decisive third game.

Max Fried is scheduled to start for New York in Game 2, while Boston is expected to turn to Sonny Gray as the Red Sox attempt to keep their postseason alive.

The biggest question entering the next game will be whether Boston can generate enough offense to challenge a Yankees team that has already demonstrated that it can win without Aaron Judge.

For New York, the formula from Game 1 was clear: dominant starting pitching, timely power and contributions from players throughout the lineup.